Rayan and Endrick may be just 19 but they have no intention of waiting to light up the world stage. Against Japan in the Round of 32 at the , the supremely-talented forwards stepped up when needed them most. Rayan started for the second consecutive match and completed the full 90 minutes, while Endrick was introduced at half-time. With both players on the pitch, Brazil came from behind .
Carlo Ancelotti’s side will face Norway in the Round of 16 on Sunday, with the two prodigies – both in contention for the FIFA Best Young Player Award – sure to attract plenty of attention in the build-up. Whatever the rest of Brazil’s campaign may have in store, Endrick and Rayan have already written their names into the five-time world champions’ football history.
Against Haiti, Rayan and Endrick were on the pitch together from the 64th minute onwards, becoming the first pair of teenagers to feature together for Brazil in a FIFA World Cup™ match since Sweden 1958. During the first of Brazil’s five World Cup triumphs, 17-year-old Pele and 19-year-old Mazzola played together in the 1-0 quarter-final victory over Wales.
Against Scotland in Brazil’s third group-stage match, Rayan became the sixth-youngest player ever to start a World Cup game for the Seleção, and the youngest to do so since left-back Marco Antonio in 1970.
Rayan was one of the final forwards to earn a place in Ancelotti’s squad, thanks to his impressive performances during his first few months in European football, as he helped Bournemouth emerge as one of the Premier League’s surprise packages this season. For Brazil, however, the former Vasco da Gama player still seemed some way from a place in the starting line-up. That changed in the 40th minute against Haiti, when Raphinha aggravated a right hamstring injury. Rayan came on and impressed his coach. With the Barcelona winger unavailable, Ancelotti had a decision to make against Scotland – he put his faith in Rayan.
“I think Rayan did well when he came on for Raphinha [against Haiti],” said the Canarinha coach prior to the match against the Scots. “Rayan has a lot to offer in that respect. We do have other players who can adapt to the system, but Rayan is capable of providing that width if we need.” Rayan soon repaid Ancelotti’s faith. His pressure high up the pitch forced Scott McKenna into the mistake from which Vinicius Jr scored Brazil’s opening goal. The youngster kept his place in the side for the match against Japan.
Endrick’s World Cup story has taken a different route, but his role has steadily grown as the tournament has progressed. After remaining on the bench for the opener against Morocco, the forward came on in the closing stages against both Haiti and Scotland. Against Japan, he was brought on at half-time for an injured Lucas Paqueta. With supporters calling for the youngster to be given his chance, Ancelotti had already said that Endrick would be important when the time is right. He did not score in the victory over Samurai Blue, but he helped Brazil push their opponents deep towards their own box, creating space in which his team-mates could operate. “We knew we had to put a little more strength in the box to get back into the game; Endrick could give us that strength and make his presence felt,” said the Italian tactician in his post-match press conference. “He played very well. He brought intensity and carried a real threat.”
Endrick and Rayan coming together on the pitch at key moments of the World Cup is the culmination of a sporting relationship that stretches back to youth football, when they were both team-mates and rivals.
In June 2022, they faced off in the final of the U-17 edition of the Copa do Brasil. Palmeiras won the first leg 4-1, with Endrick bagging a brace. Vasco won the second 4-2, with Rayan on the scoresheet, but another two goals from Endrick helped the Alviverde clinch the title 6-5 on aggregate.
At the time, both players were just 15. They could also have crossed paths in official competitions for Brazil’s youth teams, but it never quite happened – they were together at training camps and in friendly matches, but not at any major tournament.
During Brazil’s victorious CONMEBOL South American U-20 Championship campaign in 2023, Rayan was a regular starter, but Endrick was not involved. At the FIFA U-20 World Cup™ later that year, Rayan – still a Vasco player at the time – featured alongside another Palmeiras gem in Estevão, while Endrick was already with the senior Seleção.
During Brazil’s disappointing Pre-Olympic Tournament campaign, which ended with them missing out on Paris 2024, Endrick was in the squad, while Rayan was not even part of the U-23 set-up.
At the FIFA World Cup 2026, their paths have finally crossed again. They were both on the pitch for Brazil’s biggest challenge of the tournament so far, proving that the Seleção’s next generation is already ready to compete at the highest level.
Sources: FIFA Official
